Frank’s Little Houses

Posted on January 31, 2011 by urbangraffito

For the Frank Zappa and Mothers of Invention fan, there is almost always a particular album which they refer to as that album which “hooked” them as long-term fans. For me, that album was the 1970 release, ‘Burnt Weeny Sandwich‘, and in particular the more than 18 minute composition, “The Little House I Used To Live In” which functioned as the centerpiece of that album. Zappa’s 1969 solo release ‘Hot Rats‘ might have ensured my long-term Zappa fanaticism, yet ‘Burnt Weeny Sandwich‘ solidified it. When I first heard the movements and compound meters of “Little House“, my musical universe was never quite the same ever again.
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Posted in Frank Zappa, Music | Tagged , , , , | 27 Comments

Sunday Big Note – Listening Session #12

Posted on January 30, 2011 by urbangraffito

I’m certain each of us has our own personal experience in relation to Pink Floyd‘s masterpiece, Dark Side of the Moon. The band itself had conceived the album as a concept reflecting themes such as conflict, greed, the passage of time, death, and insanity. Indeed, the album struck such a universal chord during those early years of the 1970s, both the band and the public having witnessed the death of the idealism borne of the 1960s and the emerging cynicism of the 1970s, the tracks of Dark Side of the Moon were a sort of common recognition of a shared humanity. Perhaps, at very least, that’s why the album “remained in the charts for 741 weeks from 1973 to 1988, longer than any other album in history.”
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Posted in Miscellany, Music, Sunday Big Note | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Scott Thunes: San Francisco Free Jazz, 2010

Posted on January 29, 2011 by Balint

founded in 2008, the san francisco jazz collective is a rotating group of well-seasoned musicians that record their music with no charts, no chord changes, no discussions… they simply ‘hit record’ and play. the results have been amazing… sometimes: straight-up jazz, rock, fusion, electronic, blues and even a bit of funk–but always reaching…

Featuring Scott Thunes on their 2010 release (recorded in 2009). Can be bought or listened online by the name of November.

Posted in Alumni, Music | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Paul Buff’s Pal And Original Sound Studio Archives: The Collection

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

This just in by way of Andrew – from Crossfire Publications:

During 2010, Crossfire rolled out 35 download volumes (a total of 417 tracks) from Paul Buff’s archives of Pal and Original Sound recordings. Many of you wanted lossless files rather than MP3s, so we’ve gone and done it!

So what’s the deal?

We’re offering the entire 35-volume set of recordings as WAV files along with a large, 138-page PDF featuring Greg Russo and Paul Buff’s historical liner notes, photos and credits. The whole thing comes on a flash drive. Of course, all of the tracks that feature Frank Zappa as a performer, writer, producer or engineer are part of this set. Not only that, you also get 56 bonus tracks (two featuring Zappa) that were not part of the series. All of these bonus tracks were discovered and/or remastered after the series was completed, and you have to buy the entire set to get them.

The Collection, a total of 473 tracks, is $350 US for the flash drive (including shipping). Order yours here.

Posted in Frank Zappa, Miscellany, Music | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Ascolta: Reagan at Bitburg (2009)

Posted on January 26, 2011 by Balint

Update from United Mutations:

Ascolta are a Stuttgart based septet, though there were 10 on stage this cold November night. As a contemporary music ensemble they have been at the fore of playing modern music. The two percussionists, Martin Homann and Boris Muller were involved in Zappas infamous Rage and Fury recording of Varese (yet to be released).
After sending Gail Zappa the recording of two arrangements of synclavier pieces from Civilisation Phase 3 (Reagan in Bitburg and Im in a Drum), Gail invited them to LA to see whether they could arrange some other synclavier tracks – not yet released! They played a load of tracks, which Ascolta claim were completely unplayable, apart that is from 2 tracks which they took away, arranged and recorded last year for ZFT. Those tracks were Samba Funk and Uncle Sam. Ascolta play Samba Funk along with the synclavier recording from the vault.

Posted in Classical music, Frank Zappa, FZcovers, Music | Tagged | 48 Comments

Sunday Big Note – Listening Session #11

Posted on January 23, 2011 by urbangraffito

The choice of this week’s Sunday Big Note was an easy one as it is also one of our webmaster’s favorites as well. Indeed, it put a smile on my face to learn that he had this very recording in his own private collection for a long time now. On Friday, October 22nd, 2010, in his post entitled “Hey Nineteen“, Barry said:
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Posted in Miscellany, Music, Personal, Sunday Big Note | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Zappa’s Coven of Drowning Witches

Posted on January 19, 2011 by urbangraffito

On more than one occasion, upon seeing the colossal size of my Frank Zappa music collection, I’ve been asked, “How many versions of Zappa songs do you really need?” Of course, to someone who isn’t a fan of Zappa’s music, or is new to the maestro’s music, wouldn’t understand. Especially in regards to live versions of Zappa’s work.
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Posted in Frank Zappa, Music, Personal | Tagged , , , , , | 17 Comments

The Bassist: Scott Thunes Interview

Posted on January 17, 2011 by Balint

Interview with Scott Thunes in the January 2011 issue of Bass Guitar Magazine (found: Idiot Bastard).

Posted in Alumni, Interview | Tagged , , | 31 Comments

Sunday Big Note – Listening Session #10

Posted on January 16, 2011 by urbangraffito

Although not an actual member of Frank Zappa‘s band, Lakshmirnarayana Shankar definitely made a mark on countless numbers of Zappa’s fans (including myself, I might add) when he first appeared on stage with Zappa in Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, Germany on September 7th, 1978, performing “The Deathless Horsie” alongside Zappa – as well as L. Shankar’s subsequent appearances in concerts in the tours that followed. Whether it was Ponty, or Sugarcane Harris, Zappa always had an ear for the unique and innovative player – and L. Shankar was no exception.
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Posted in Miscellany, Music, Sunday Big Note, YouTubery | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

ZPZ & the Vault

Posted on January 12, 2011 by Balint

But this vault belongs to Wolfgang, where you can watch 2 videos and an interview. Pretty good performances, but there’s a second meaning to me behind all this: Dweezil’s presence seems to “legalise” FZ’s materials on this homepage.

Posted in FZcovers, Zappa Plays Zappa | Tagged , , | 1 Comment